The Force Awakens

To say I am excited about The Force Awakens (TFA) is an understatement. Now it is not '83 to '99 but it is '05 to '15. After Revenge of the Sith (ROTS) came out, the Prequels were done and as a Star Wars fan that movie drug was gone and there were rumors of a live action TV show and maybe a cartoons or summing but that was it. 

It all looked bleak, but in August 2008, we got a Clone Wars movie.  It was basically a couple episodes put to together to form a movie and soon thereafter the Clone Wars (Oct 08) was an amazing, wonderful ride between Attack of the Clones (AOTC) and ROTS. Ok, Clone Wars gets cancelled and the last episode leaves you like The Empire Strikes Back  (TESB) and there is so many questions.  Again it just shows the division in the Jedi Order and how Anakin and Ashoka's relationship perfectly and eloquently reflects this division. It came to faithful end in March 2013 it ended ...Lost Missions in Feb 2014...yes sir.  Tells more about Order 66 and how a Clone almost found out the truth.

But back up jusy a smidge, on Oct 30th, 2012 Disney buys Lucas Films for like 4 billion and that day they announce new movies and the Star Wars Universe just explodes. What more movies? Taking a page out of the Marvel book and having a Trilogy and stand alone films.  Fan Boys weep for joy.

In January 2013, J. J. Abrams was announced as the director of Star Wars Episode VII and I think this is where I lost my mind.  I really like what he just did with Star Trek and Super 8 is in Top 10 films of all time.  Trouble in paradise? Script writter Arndt left from the project on October 24, 2013, and Lawarence Kasdan and Abrams take over script duties. Change in vision?? 

On April 29, 2014, - this photo literally broke the internet.

Pretty much the same crew that brought you the Clone Wars is bringing you Star Wars Rebels which launched in September 2014.

On November 6, 2014, the title of the film was announced as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  This title couldn't be more perfect.  Encaspulates, the essence of Star Wars fandom...it was dormant now it is 

So second-unit filming began in April with principal photography taking place May through November and the date will be December 18th, 2015 in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D.

There is a lot more I can write about the trailers and everything else, but Let's get to the movie.

***Spoilers*** Instead of coming up with this elaborate story and how I think it plays out.  This is again mostly what I think is going to happen and combining on what "internet" says....before I get there, my number one fan boy request is have Boba Fett in the movie.  I know they are making an anthology film on Han Solo so I really hope he is in that but I desperately want to see him in December.

Okay last chance...***spoilers***

Poe Dameron - Oscar Isaac said he is a hot shot pilot.  He is our Wedge for this new series with a touch of Han Solo swagger thrown in there.  I could definitely see a love interest to Rey.  Also, helps out Finn early on to escape 1st Order.

Rey - There is a reason that we don't know her last name.  I believe she is the daughter of Han and Leia and she is also Force Sensitive and be the one to hand the lightsaber to Luke.

Finn - Although we see now Finn holding a lightsaber, this is not a Han Solo thing.  I truly believe he is part of the Awakening and learns that he is not the 1st Order type and he helps Poe to escape.
Han Solo - I believe this is a Han Solo movie and that he is main dude of the movie.  I also think he doesn't make it out of this movie and show him die on screen. Harrison Ford wanted to kill him off in ROTJ so I think he gets his wish this time.
Luke Skywalker - I don't think you see Luke to the end of the film.  I think he is at a demi-God state and he is ridiculously powerful.  He understands what is at stake and pulled a Master Yoda not otherwise intervene and went somewhat in hiding.
Princess Leia - I think she is the leader of the Resistance and her and Han are estranged. I don't want that but could explain why Rey doesn't really know Han.
Captain Phasma - Maybe our Boba Fett of this film.  I see her as a very elite stormtrooper but is also very unorthodoxed methods to her.
Kylo Ren - This guy is not full Sith but understands he wants to be.  He is collector and I believe he is the one that is holding Darth Vader's mask in the trailer.  I think he wants this Darth Vader's lightsaber and he believes is the key for the Sith. Also, son of Han and Leia. I believe he is the one that Kills his father, Han.
General Hux - This is a dice role for me.  I really think he is our Grand Moff Tarkin of the movie.
Supreme Leader Snoke - This is the major I have no idea.  I really wanted this to be Darth Bane as the spirit guiding Kylo.  My guess he is as bad as bad can get just like our Supreme Chancellor Palpatine =). 

So there you have it, my predictions for Force Awakens....we will find out soon enough. Now bring on the toys...Force Friday Eve is upon us.  Next week I am going to tackle, why the Prequels saved ObiWan Kenobi.

Why Qui-Gon Jinn is the most powerful Jedi

We are 120 days away from a new movie and I am ready to flex my Geek muscle to gear up for the new flick.  I hope to bring up engaging topics about the Star Wars universe and fun little discussions.

So I am going for a big one right away,  why I believe Qui-Gon Jinn is the most powerful and influential Jedi ever.

The Prequels basically establish that there is a prophecy that there is one Jedi to bring balance to the Force.  During the 6 films, it is established that this is Anakin Skywalker.  Now, he did this in the most unconventional way. He got seduce by the Dark Side. Anakin hunted down all the good Jedi and killed them all. Basically, only through the love of his son broke through the veil of lies and deceit of the Emperor was handing Vader/Anakin.  He took him down so Luke the only living Jedi at that time can reestablish the Jedi Order just like it was before the Rise of the Sith and by the way Qui-Gon called it.

So logically, the choice would be Anakin or Yoda and then maybe Luke or Obi-Wan. So just going off the grid a smidge to say no one has anything over Qui-Gon Jinn.

First, Qui-Gon is a practicing Jedi.  What I mean be that is he was feet on the street kind of Jedi.  As the Jedi Council is in their tower,  Qui-Gon was out on the street.  Although the Jedi Council found him reckless, it was him and his padawan Obi-Wan that were sent as emissaries to help the Republic talk to the Trade Foundation.  Again, he was relatable and was able to discern both sides. Qui-Gon was very much into the Living Force.  He was very aware of what was going on.  When Qui-Gon meets a Sith Lord, Darth Maul and relates that information to the Jedi Council, you very much get a sense that they think Qui-Gon is lying.  The Jedi were not out there at least a lot of the masters were not which causes them to loose site of the outside world.  Yoda recognizes this way to late.  It was only after Supreme Chancellor Palpatine shows his true self. "Finally, he saw the truth. This truth: that he, the avatar of light, Supreme Master of the Jedi Order, the fiercest, most implacable, most devastatingly powerful foe the darkness have ever known...just---didn't---have it. He never had it. He had lost before he started. He had lost before he was born. The Sith has changed.  The Sith had grown, had adapted, had invested a thousand years' intensive study into every aspect of not only the Force but Jedi lore itself, in preparation for exactly this day. The Sith had remade themselves. They had become new.  While the Jedi---The Jedi had spent the same millennium training to re fight the last war." (ROTS by Matthew Stover p 396). You see this manifest on screen when Bail Organo rescues him in the speeder.  You see the sense of lost in Yoda's face and slight shake of he head.  I say all this to establish that Qui-Gon is much more in tune with the people/society around him and ever pressing danger that was the Sith.

Second, Qui-Gon showed great humility.  This is clear when he literally runs into Jar Jar Binks (ed. - Lucas just stated that Goofy was his inspiration for Jar-Jar).  I will save all my Jar Jar ranting for another time.  It was Qui-Gon who knew that a local could be a great guide. Qui-Gon showed immense patience like that of a parent to see through Jar Jar's childish ways and help them on their quest.  Through this, Queen Amidala meets a Gungan for the very 1st time and help establish a treaty with the Gungans to take back Naboo from the Trade Federation.  She is on the planet her whole life and takes a Jedi to bring two native people together.  Yoda learned this from Qui-Gon.  Let's be honest Episode 1 Yoda is a prick.  The way he interacts with young Anakin is not very cool and Jedi like.  By Attack of the Clones, he is a much softer Yoda and as he teaches his Bear Clan and helps Obi-Wan find his missing planet, Kamino.  He states "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is".  Yoda then passes this onto Luke.  Luke fails miserably.  Yoda poses as a disfunctional hermit/guide.  Luke does not see it and it is only through Luke's impatience,  Yoda reveals his true self.  Luke learns from this and applies it in Return of the Jedi.  Luke and crew meet the Ewoks the local people on Endor's Moon when Chewie wants a tasty afternoon snack.  Solo wanted to blast the Ewoks but Luke told Han to hold off.  Luke is not the aggressor here and let's it unfold.  With that, these lil fur balls help the Rebels take down the Empire. The Sith always see a means to end.  Sith would enslave the local people and dominate them for help with resource gathering. This is not the Jedi way and Luke saw the potential of their new ally which the Emperor doesn't forsee and leads to the ultimate destruction of the Empire as we know it. It goes back to the golden rule that Jesus Christ taught in Luke 6:31 - "Do to others as you would want them to do to you."

Finally,  there is the Journey of the Whills. Qui-Gon is the first Jedi to maintain himself in the Force.  We first see this in A New Hope and Obi-Wan just disappears before Darth Vader does the killing blow. "You can't win Darth.  If you strike me down, I will become even more powerful than you can imagine." Obi-Wan is not only telling Darth Vader this but also the viewing audience that something strange and big is going to happen.  Although, Vader does seem shocked.  It seems like a common Jedi thing to do.  Qui-Gon is the first to do it.  One of my favorite scenes in Revenge of the Sith is when Emperor Palpatine seduces Anakin to the dark side.  At the Opera House, Palaptine starts off with "'Anakin ---are you familiar with The Tragedy Darth Plagueis the Wise?'" (ROTS by Matthew Stover, p226). Palpatine drops the bait '"Its a Sith legend, of a Dark Lord who had turned his sight inward so deeply that he had come to comprehend, and master, life itself. And---because the two are one, whwn seen clearly engough---death itself."' (ROTS by Matthew Stover, p227).  What is not clear in the movie but fleshed out in the novel is that Anakin keeps on having visions of Padme screaming on the birthing table and dying.  This nightmare is ultimately what drives Anakin to find an alternate route.  Really, it is Fear of the unknown that drives Anakin towards the Dark Side.  This is the ironic part...when Anakin takes out Mace Windu. The Emperor gives Anakin his Sith name....Darth Vade. The Emperor states Anakin "I want your power. I want the power to stop death" Emporer "That power only my Master truly achieved, but together we will find it. The Force is strong with you, my boy. You can do anything" (ROTS by Matthew Stover p 339).  So he didn't even know how to do this and yet it was the brash Jedi, Qui-Gon that lead the way.  Of course, in the Clone Wars Cartoon Series we found out that Qui-Gon visits both Anakin and Obi-Wan on the planet Mortis (Ed. - must watch, Mortis Trilogy!).

Think about it...There would be no blowing up the Death Star without Obi-Wan encouraging words to Luke. There would be no direction to seek out the only other living Jedi, Yoda.

The first time you see this happen is when Anakin attacks the Tusken Raider camp.  Qui-Gon through the Force as Yoda is mediating and Yoda hears Qui-Gon's voice and warning to Anakin.  There is this wonderful exchange between Qui-Gon and Yoda that is "off camera" in the movie.  "Even after nearly nine hundred years, the road to self knowledge was rugged enough to leave him bruised and bleeding. He spoke softly, but not to himself. Though no one was with him, he was not alone. "My failure, this was. Failed the Jedi, I did." He spoke to the Force.  And the Force answered him. Do not blame yourself, my old friend. As it sometimes had these past thirteen years, when the Force spoke to him, it spoke in the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn. (ROTS by Matthew Stover p 409).  Qui-Gon goes on to explain the one thing Anakin wanted the one the most powerful Sith Lord chased and the very wise Master of the Force, Yoda didn't even know..."With my help, you can learn to join with the Force, yet retain consciousness. You can join your light to it forever. Perhaps, in time, even your physical self.  Yoda didn't move. "Eternal life..." The ultimate goal of the Sith, yet they can never achieve it; it comes only by the release of self, not the exaltation of self. It comes through compassion, not greed. Love is the answer to the darkness.  "Become one with the Force, yet influence still to have..." Yoda mused. " A power greater than all, it is." (ROTS by Matthew Stover p 409)

So there you have it. These are my reasons why I feel Qui-Gon Jinn is the most powerful Jedi.  I hope you enjoyed.  Next week, I will be talking about the Wampa Cave.

Peace!